Married at First Sight UK star Maeve Mathieson has shared a positive update on her life after the experiment, reflecting on the difficult but valuable lessons learned from her turbulent marriage to Joe Wood. While the couple’s journey on the show was marked by declarations of love, the pair faced significant challenges, including Joe’s emotional withdrawal following a family tragedy and a dramatic exit from the experiment. Recent social media activity and statements from Maeve strongly suggest the couple is no longer together, with Maeve now focusing on her personal growth and the support of her friends.
A Relationship Tested by External Pressures
Maeve and Joe’s relationship was a rollercoaster from the very beginning, starting with Maeve’s memorable arrival at their wedding on horseback in a black dress, which Joe admitted made him nervous. Despite an initial connection, their relationship was severely tested when Joe received news of his grandfather’s passing during the experiment. This family tragedy became a major turning point, causing Joe to reassess his feelings and creating emotional distance between them.
Joe struggled to share his grief with Maeve, admitting to the experts that he had a habit of hiding negative emotions in relationships. He told them, “I just bring positive and good things,” a pattern that left Maeve feeling shut out. She expressed her frustration during a commitment ceremony, saying, “Then I feel awful. Do you know what I mean? Like, I can’t do my best if you don’t tell me what’s going on.” The experts noted that both were compromising core parts of themselves; Joe was suppressing his sadness, while Maeve was tempering her vibrant personality.
The strain culminated during a spa day with the other grooms, where Joe confided in fellow participant Ashley about his doubts. When asked if he was in love with Maeve, Joe replied, “I do love her in a way, but am I truly head over heels truly in love? Probably not. There is a massive difference.” Shortly after this conversation, feeling overwhelmed, Joe decided to temporarily leave the experiment without saying goodbye to Maeve.
Social Media Clues and Fan Speculation
Since the episodes aired, evidence has mounted on social media that Maeve and Joe are not together. Neither follows the other on Instagram, and neither has posted any photos of them together as a couple, which is a common step for even the most rocky MAFS UK pairs.
Maeve has posted several cryptic but telling messages. In one Instagram post, she wrote about a journey of “growth, reflection, and finding myself again.” She revealed her confidence had been “knocked” and she had “lost that spark,” thanking friends and family for reminding her it’s “okay to start over, to rebuild, and to rise stronger than before.” In the comments of a TikTok video, when a viewer wrote, “You deserved better,” Maeve liked the message and replied with heart emojis. To another comment stating, “Only thing we’re redoing is our standards,” she replied, “Say it louder babyyyyy.”
Furthermore, while Maeve is frequently seen in social media posts and videos with other cast members like Keye and Davide, Joe has been conspicuously absent from these group gatherings, leading to speculation that they are avoiding being in the same room post-split.
The Real Reason She Stayed
In a candid Instagram Q&A, Maeve explained why she chose to stay in the experiment even after Joe had left. She credited the support of her new friends in the cast for keeping her going. She shared a photo with Keye and Davide, calling them her “little love bugs” and stating, “The love and support I received every minute of every day from my squad was unbelievable.”
She also revealed a key piece of information she was unaware of at the time: she knew about the private conversation between Joe and Ashley but did not know it had been filmed for the show. She stated plainly, “If I knew that, I wouldn’t have stayed. It’s all just a bit muggy for me.”
Moving Forward with Friends and Self-Growth
Joe also addressed his exit on social media, explaining the difficulty of navigating personal grief within the show’s environment. He posted, “REALITY CHECK. The MAFS bubble is a real thing, and it’s easy to forget about the real world. Receiving the news of a family passing was certainly a wake up call and put things into perspective.” He apologized for being confused in his feelings and for upsetting people, but emphasized that family was his top priority.
For Maeve, the focus has clearly shifted to her own well-being. Her social media reflects a person rebuilding and embracing a new chapter, supported by the close friendships she formed during the experience. Her message of being “sound now” points to a place of hard-won peace and self-assurance after a very public relationship breakdown.
Also Read: MAFS UK’s Divarni Confronts Julia-Ruth as Lies Unravel in Explosive Argument
